God; and, at the same time, such a deep and humbling view of human depravity, when moved and brought forth by circumstances, as inexperience can scarcely credit, but which must arrest the eye of pious contemplation, and open a new world of wonders.

.

I must now attempt to conduct the reader, without the help of Mr. N.'s "Narrative," finished Feb. 2, 1763; to which, as I have already observed, he referred me for the former and most singular part of his life. When I left the above account with him for revision, he expressed full satisfaction as to all the facts related; but said, he thought I had been too minute even in the abridgment, since the "Narrative" itself had been long before the public. I remarked, in reply, that the "Narrative" contained a great variety of facts-that these Memoirs might fall into the hands of persons who had not seen the "Narrative" -but that, without some abridgment of it, no clear view could be formed of the peculiarity of his whole dispensation and character-and, therefore, that such an abridgment appeared to be absolutely necessary, and that he had recommended it at my first undertaking the work. With these reasons he was well satisfied. I now proceed to the remaining, though less remarkable part of his life.

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Mr. Manesty, who had long been a faithful and generous friend of Mr. N., having procured him the place of tide-surveyor in the port of Liverpool, Mr. N. gives the following account of it. "I entered upon business yesterday. I find my duty is to attend the tides one week, and visit the ships that arrive, and such as are in the river; and the other week to inspect the vessels in the docks: and thus, alternately, the year round. The latter is little more than a sinecure; but the former requires pretty constant attendance, both by day and night. I have a good office, with fire and candle, and fifty or sixty people under

my direction; with a handsome six-oared boat and a cockswain, to row me about in form."*

We cannot wonder that Mr. N. latterly retained a strong impression of a particular Providence, superintending and conducting the steps of man; since he was so often reminded of it in his own history. The following occurrence is one of many instances. Mr. N. after his reformation, was remarkable for his punctuality: I remember his often sitting with his watch in his hand, lest he should fail in keeping his next engagement. This exactness with respect to time, it seems, was his habit while occupying his post at Liverpool. One day, however, some business had so detained him, that he came to his boat much later than usual, to the surprise of those who had observed his former punctuality. He went out in the boat, as heretofore, to inspect a ship; but the ship blew up just before he reached her. It appears, that, if he

had left the shore a few minutes sooner, he must have perished with the rest on board.

This anecdote I had from a clergyman, upon whose word I can depend; who had been long in intimate habits with Mr. N. and who had it from Mr. N. himself: the reason of its not appearing in his letters from Liverpool to Mrs. N. I can only suppose to be, his fearing to alarm her with respect to the dangers of his station.

But another providential occurrence, which he mentions in those letters, I shall transcribe.

"When I think of my settlement here, and the manner of it, I see the appointment of Providence so good and gracious, and such a plain answer to my poor prayers, that I cannot but wonder and adore. I think I have not yet told you, that my immediate predecessor in office, Mr. C., had not the least intention of resigning his place on the occasion of his father's death: though such a report was spread about the "Letters to a Wife," vol. ii, p. 7.

town without his knowledge; or, rather, in defiance of all he could say to contradict it. Yet to this false report I owe my situation. For it put Mr. M. upon an application to Mr. S. the member for the town; and the very day he received the promise in my favour, Mr. C. was found dead in his bed; though he had been in company, and in perfect health, the night before. If I mistake not, the same messenger, who brought the promise, carried back the news of the vacancy to Mr. S. at Chester. About an hour after, the Mayor applied for a nephew of his; but, though it was only an hour or two, he was too late. Mr. S. had already written, and sent off the letter, and I was appointed accordingly. These circumstances appear to me extraordinary, though of a piece with many other parts of my singular history. And the more so, as, by another mistake, I missed the land-waiter's place, which was my first object, and which I now see, would not have suited us nearly so well. I thank God, I can now look through instruments and second causes, and see his wisdom and goodness immediately concerned in fixing my lot."

Mr. N. having expressed, near the end of his "Narrative," the motives which induced him to aim at a regular appointment to the ministry in the church of England, and of the disappointment he met with in his first making the attempt, the reader is further informed, that, on Dec. 16, 1758, Mr. N. received a title to a curacy from the Rev. Mr. C. and applied to the Archbishop of York, Dr. Gilbert, for ordination. The Bishop of Chester, having countersigned his testimonials, directed him to Dr. Newton, the Archbishop's Chaplain. He was referred to the Secretary, and received the softest refusal imaginable. The Secretary informed him, that he had represented the matter to the Archbishop, but his Grace was inflexible in supporting the Rules and Canons of the Church," &c.

66

Travelling to Loughborough, Mr. N. stopped at Welwyn; and, sending a note to the celebrated Dr. Young, he received for answer, that the Doctor would be glad to see him. He found the Doctor's conversation agreeable, and answerable to his expectation respecting the author of the "Night Thoughts." The Doctor likewise seemed pleased with Mr. N. He approved Mr. N.'s design of entering the ministry, and said many encouraging things upon the subject; and, when he dismissed Mr. N., desired him never to pass near Welwyn without calling upon him.

Mr. N. it seems, had made some small attempts at Liverpool, in a way of preaching or expounding. Many wished him to engage more at large in those ministerial employments to which his own mind was inclined; and he thus expresses his motives in a letter to Mrs. N. in answer to the objections she had formed. "The late death of Mr. Jones, of St. Saviour's, has pressed this concern more closely upon my mind. I fear it must be wrong, after having so solemnly devoted myself to the Lord for his service, to wear away my time, and bury my talents in silence (because I had been refused orders in the church) after all the great things he has done for me."*

In a note annexed, he observes, that the influence of his judicious and affectionate counsellor moderated the zeal which dictated this letter written in the year 1762-that, had it not been for her, he should probably have been precluded from those important scenes of service, to which he was afterward appointed but he adds, "The exercises of my mind upon this point, I believe have not been peculiar to myself. I have known several persons, sensible, pious, of competent abilities, and cordially attached to the established church; who, being wearied out with repeated refusals of ordination, and, perhaps not having the advantage of such an adviser as I had, have "Letters to a Wife," vol. ii, p. 79.

at length struck into the itinerant path, or settled among the Dissenters. Some of these, yet living, are men of respectable characters, and useful in their ministry; but their influence, which would once have been serviceable to the true interests of the church of England, now rather operates against it."

In the year 1764, Mr. N. had the curacy of Olney proposed to him, and was recommended by Lord D. to Dr. Green, bishop of Lincoln: of whose candour and tenderness he speaks with much respect. The Bishop had admitted him as a candidate for orders. "The examination," says he, "lasted about an hour, chiefly upon the principal heads of divinity. As I was resolved not to be charged hereafter with dissimulation, I was constrained to differ from his Lordship in some points: but he was not offended: he declared himself satisfied, and has promised to ordain me, either next Sunday, in town, or the Sunday following, at Buckden. Let us praise the Lord!"*

Mr. N. was ordained deacon at Buckden, April 29, 1764; and priest, in June, the following year. In the parish of Olney he found many who not only had evangelical views of the truth, but had also long walked in the light and experience of it. The vicarage was in the gift of the Earl of D********, the nobleman to whom Mr. N. addressed the first twentysix letters in his "Cardiphonia." The earl was a man of real peity, and most amiable disposition: he had formerly appointed the Rev. Moses Brown to the vicarage.

Mr. Brown was a faithful minister, and a good man of course, he had afforded wholesome instruction to the parishioners of Olney: he had also been the instrument of a sound conversion in many of them. He was the author of a poetical piece, entitled "Sunday Thoughts," a translation of Professor Zimmerman's "Excellency of the Knowledge of Je*"Letters," &c. p. 89. 32*

VOL. I.